Valve mechanism



J. R, GAMMETx-:R ET AL April 7, 1925.

VALVE MECHANISM 4 m. U EN Nw O NMN W\ 5E Q Q um w o mw 1 O n m, N b. Q Q m S# .m

April 7, 1925.

J. R. GAMMETER ET AL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 3.923

4 sheets-sheet 2 Jn v enms April 7, 1925.- 1,532,396

J. R. GAMMETER ET AL I VALVE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 7, 1925.

1,532,396 J. R. GAMMETER ET AL VALVE MEcHAmsM Filed Sept. 19, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ffy mm fill Patented pr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOI-IN R. GAMMETER AND WALDEMAR D.

KMENTT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, OF NEVT YO'RK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

VALVE MECHANISM.

Application led September To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN R. GAMMETER and WALDEMAP. D. KMENTT, citizens of theV an important application in large valves of the disc type such as are used in the vwalls of balloons or the gas bags of dirigible airships to Permit escape of gas at the will of the operator or automatically to permit such escape when the preponderance of internal gas pressure as compared with external air pressure reaches or exceeds a determinate amount, as in the case of the balloon rising to high altitudes, or in the case of an increase of gas pressure ldue to a rise of temperature. lVhile our invention is not wholly limited to installations for the control of gaseous fluids, we have chosen, for purposes of illustration herein, an embodiment thereof suitable for use as a disc-type, relief valve structure for a gas bag.

lt is usually desired in valves of this character that the valve and its related mechanism be of such construction that upon being started from the valve seat, by manually applied force or merely by the preponderating gas pressure within the balloon, the valve Awill continue to open wider, to a full opening, under substantially the same or less force than is required for the initial starting of the valve from its seat, so that the valve will 'permit a free passage of the escaping fluid, quickly affording a substantial relief of pressure, and then promptly and completely close when the force tending to hold it open has fallen to a determinate value less than that which caused it to open. Such :construction obviates the disadvantages of a slow and prolonged escape of gas, inthe case of a' balloon, and the vibration or chattering of the valve, which may occur in a valve offering an increasing resistance to opening. lt is also desirable that the valve 19, 1923. serial No. 663,602.

be adapted to be' set to open at different pressures without unduly affecting the ratio or differential between the opening and closing pressures, and that the valve be adapted' to operate dependably and accurately at low as well as high pressures.

Our general object is to provide an improved valve structure of simple construction and accurater and dependable operation. A more specific object is to provide an improved valve structure in which the valve is accurately guided in a wide opening and closing movement without undue change of resistance and without the sliding of one guiding element upon another, thus avoiding excessive friction such as to cause binding or sticking of the valve, andv making possible an accurate valve control at low and at high pressures. Another object is to provide for ready and accurate adjustment of a reliefA valve as to loading, or the force required to open it, and a further Objectis to provide a structure inwliich the loading, of a relief valve having a decreasing resistance to opening, may be varied while preserving, without undue modification, the valves characteristic of offering a decreasing resistance to opening as it moves away vfrom its seat. Another object is to provide improved external means for accurately indicating the setting or loading of a relief valve.V 'A still further Objectis to providea relief valve mechanism in which the actuating mechanism is positioned on the exterior of the valve so as to be readily accessible.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section of a device embodying our invention in a. preferred form, the same being mounted as a relief valve in the lower or floor wall of a gas bag, and

parts being broken away and sectioned iny the device to vary the loading of the valve.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on a large scale showing the attachment of the 'valveseat member to the wall of the gas bag and a lip gasket in its relation tothe valve and valve seat in closed position.

Fig. 12 is an elevation, with a part in section, of a reinforced border member or bead on the gas bag wall, defining the opening therein fer the valve structure.

Fig. 13v is an elevation of the external parts of the valve structure.

Fig. 14V is a vertical section of an alternative embodiment of our invention inwhich the valve mechanism is on the outer side of the valve so as to be accessible from the eX- terior of the balloon.

Referring at first to the embodiment shown in F igs. 1 to 13 ofthe drawings, 1() is the lower w-all or floor of a gas and 11 is a valve-seating ring formed at its lower side with an annular, generally plane, valveseating face 12, said ring being so formed in cross-section as to receive with a snug lit an annular, border member or bead 13, formed o-n the wall of the gas bag and defining the opening therein in which the valve-seating ring is mounted. Said bead, having a substantial width transversely of the gas bag wall, provides an upwardly extending annular flange 13Il fitting` within a complemental recess in the ring, and a depending` annular flange 13h, which is encircled and held tightly seated against the valve seating ring 11 by a tape'l-l, which may be of adhesive material such as coated or impregnated fabric and wrapped in superimposed convo-- lutiens upon the flange 13b. The bead is provided with a serpentine reinforcingl wire 13C vembedded therein, the loops of said wire lying substantially in a cylindrical formation, permitting the bead 13 to be circumferentially elastic, so that it n'iay be stretched and deformed from true cylindri cal shape. in mounting it upon the valve, said reinforcement at the same time providing local, lateral stiffness in the bead which makes highly effective the anchoring of the bead by its two flanges 13a, 13".

Secured to the valve-seating ring 11 is a dome-like skeleton frame 15, preferably of perforated sheet metal, as shown, serving as a mounting for certain parts of the valve assembly and as a protective housing for the valve mechanism within the gas bag, being of smooth contour externally so as to support the contacting wall of the gas bag, when the latter is collapsed, out of contact with the valve mechanism and without damage. to said wall. I

The valve comprises an externally convex, internally concave, disc-type, valve member 16, a central, hollow, guiding stem 1T eX- tending upward into the yOas bag therefrom, and a conical, sheet metal brace member 18 having an axial opening at its small lend defined by an internal, annular flange 18a clamped between a shoulder or annular flange 17au formed on the stem 17 and a nut 17D screwed upon said stem, the larger annular margin of said .brace member being secured to the disc member 16 at 18h, as by welding. rllhe brace member 18 is formed with openings, such as 18C, 18d, therethrough, to accommodate parts of mechanism as shown and as hereinafter described.

The periphery of the disc member 16 is provided with a lip gasket 19, of Lsha'pe in cross section, having an internal, transverse flange cr lip adapted to seat against the face 2 of the valve-seating ring 11, and the latter is provided with an annular ridge or flange l2Q on said face adapted to receive the relative stiff base portion of the lip gasket and form a seal therewith against the ingress of air in case the pressure within the gas envelope becomes less than the pressure of the atmosphere, as may occur in airships of the rigid dirigible type. The L-shaped lip gasket is formed with an internally beaded, cylindrical, attaching portion, which is clamped against a complemental, mai'- g'inal face on the exterior of the disc mcmbei* 16, by a series of segmental springl clips 20, 20, riveted to said disc member and encircled by a winding of adhesive tape 21.

The guiding and loading mechanism for the valve comprises a lower set of segmental valve-guiding levers 22, Q2, here shown four, stepped apart about the valve stem l?, against which their arcuate faces are adapted to vbear in rolling contact, said levers being 'pivoted, on horizontal axes, as at 23, 23, to respective brackets such as 24, 24, secured to and extending radially inward from the valve seating ring 11. ln vertical alignment with the several segmental arms 22 of the lower set are segmental, valveguiding arms such as 25, 25, of an upper set, their arcuate faces likewise being adapted to roll or rock upon the valve stem 17, and their other ends eing pivoted on horizontal ailes, as at 26, 26, to ears such as 27, 27, formed on an internal reinforcing ring or frame member 28 secured to the dome-like housing 15.

Each of the levers of the upper set is bifurcated from near its pivot to its stemcontacting end, to accommodate a loading spring 32 and adjustment mechanism hereinafter described, each of said levers thus having a rather widely spaced-apart pair of arcuate-faced rockers 29, 29, (Fig. e) for contacting the valve stem 17, whirh is squared throughout its upper end portion as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and l, to provide a flat bearing for the arcuate faces of said widely spaced rochers. The latter be connected by a brace member 29",y near their. arcuate faces, as shown in Fig. 1, if desired.

Each of said rockers 29 of the upper set of levers is vertically grooved on its arcuate face to accommodate, and to provide an arcuate, laterally-supporting face tor, a cable 30 having its ends anchored as at 30d to said rockers at the lower ends of their arcuate faces and its middle portion looped over and secured by an anchor member 31 secured to the upper end of the stein 17. y

.Eeach lever 22 of the lower set is formed with a deep medial groove on its arcuate face to accommodate, and to provide an arcuate laterally-supporting face for, an ei;- tension cable 33 connected to the loading spring 32, said cable being secured to said lever at Se, at the lower end of said slot. A cable 36, for each lever of the lower set, has its ends anchored to the lever as at 36a, at

the upper ends of the latters arcuate faces,

said faces being grooved to accommodate, and to provide arcuate, laterally-supporting faces for, said cable, and the middle part of the cable 36 is looped about a grooved anchor member 37, the several members 37 being` mounted upon respective radial arms 38, 38, projecting from an axially apertured or annular slide 39 mounted within the hollow valve stem 17, said arms being slidably mounted in respective, vertical, guide slots l0 in the wall of said stem. Said slide is provided with adjusting means hereinafter described, for securing' 'it at different positions, longitudinally, in theA hollow valve stem 17.

As the loading spring 32 urges toward each other the lower lever 22 and the upper lever 25, to which its ends are respectivelyv connected, thus holding taut the cables 30 and 3G, the valve stein 17 and the several upper and lower levers 25 and 22, are compelled to act indeterminate relation to each other in moving upward or downward, the arcuate faces of the segmental, valve-guiding levers rolling upon and accurately guidthe valve stein without sliding friction between them.

rlhe loadinG" springs 32 are adapted to spring is connected to the upper lever 25, at

such position thereon that it acts on said lever a shorter distance from the latters pivot than it does as regard the lower lever 22, the. springs extension cable 33 being at tached to the lower lever at a point relatively remote' from its pivot, so that the spring exerts upon the valve stem a greater force upward thanr it does downward, the levers 22 and 25, although of equal length, constituting a pair of differential levers.

The action perhaps may be more clearly visualized by considering the levers 22 and as opposite elements of a parallel motion, of which the valve stem 17 and the frame connectionl between the pivots 23 and 'w26 oonstitute the alternate or intervening elements, the loading spring 32 constituting an oblique, elastic brace, and elongation of the spring resulting` during downward movement of the levers because the spring 32, and the cables 30, 36, acting in opposition thereto, cause the levers to move through equal ares, so that the lower end of the spring, having a longer moment arrn, moves farther than its upper end does.

The effectof decreasing resistance of the.

valve as it isY forced farther open after leaving its valve seat results from the fact that the springs effective moment arm on the moving, lower, segmental lever is constant,y the floor of the groove in'said arm which accommodates andllaterally supports the extension cable 33 being concentric with the levers pivot 23, while the upper end of the spring has its anchorage at such high position on the upper lever 25 that as said upper lever descends the spring Yacts upon said lever through a point of tangency at an increasing `elfectivev distance from the levers pivot 26, within the contemplated limit of downward movement. That is to say, the force of the spring acts upon said lever 25 through the point at which the axis of vthe spring is nearest the pivot of the lever, which we have vabove referred to as its point of tangency, and as the lever moves downward such pointis farther and farther from said pivot, due to the angular movement of the arm and the spring.

Stop cords 16a, 16a, may be provided, as shown, to limit the/opening of the valve. 'll he means for adjusting the slide 3,9 longitudinally of the valve stem 17, to vary the .loading of the valve by increasing the spring tension., comprises a nut ,41 pressed into the hollow valve stein against an Ainternal flange e2 formed in the latter', and a screw 43 mounted in said nut and adapted, upon being screwed downward in said nut, to force the slide 39 downwardr against the force of the loading springs 32, through an linterposed, anti-friction, thrust bearing 44, the

radial arms 38 ofthe slide moving invthe longitudinal slot 40 in the wall of the valve,

stein, this adjustment swinging the lower valve-guiding lever 22 away from the upper valve-guiding lever 25 but without changing its point of contact against the valve stem so as to change the length ot the parallelmotion element represented by the valve stern.

F or conveniently turning the screw 43 from the exterior ot the valve, a squared shaft 45 extends through the axial aperture ot the slide 39 and slidably tits a square, axial aperture in the base oit said screw, the latter being conterbored from its upper end, and 4.6 is a collar secured upon the end ot' the squared shatt, wit-hin the counterbore ot' the screw, to limit the upward movement ot the screw upon sait. shaft. The lower end ot said shaft is cylindrical and is journaled in and projects downward from a screw plug 47, formed with an axial bearing for said shaft, said plug being mounted in a central opening in the disc member 16 and `screwed into the lower end ot the valve stem ,17. said screw plug is formed with an external, lateral flange 47a, by which the annular margin of the disc member is clamped against a collar 48 fitted upon the stem 17, against a shoulder 49 formed thereon, the Y central opening ot the dise member l0 being thus closed and sealed.

For turning the adjusting shaft 45 and securing it in accurately adjusted positions, a worm gear 50 is secured upon its lower end, on the exterior of the valve, and aV worm 5l, having` a squared trunnion 52 (Fig. 2) to receivey a wrench, is journaled, in mesh with said worm gear, in a pair of ears 53, 53, projecting from the flange 47a of the screw plug 47.

Said gear may be provided with a scale 54 on its lower tace, as shown in Fig. 2, associated with an indicator 55, applied to an adjacent part of the disc member 16, for indicating different loadings. of the valve. A triple scale is shown in Fig. 2, the outer series of figures, designated Top, pertaining to theV loading of the valve when the latter is mounted in a top wall of thev gas bag, where. the weight ot the movable valve parts is addedto the force of the loading springs, while the inner series of figures, designated Botj torbottom,' are applicable when the valve is in a lower wall, as in Fig. l, the weight of the movable parts then acting in opposition to the loading springs,.and the middle series oi ligures,

, designated Side, apply when the valve is mounted in side wall of the gas bag, with the valve stem extending horizontally so that the torce ot the loading springs is not substantially modiiied by the weight of valve parts.

To provide a seal ot' the adjusting shafts bearing in the screw plug 4:7, a gasket 56 is interposed between the, inner end of said bearing and a ilange 57 formed on said shaft, and a compression spring 58, encircling the hub of the worm gear 50, is interposed Lasa-eee between said gear and t-he outer end ot' the bearing, t-o hold the gasket 56 compressed between the flange 57 and the bearing.

lr" the increase of loading of the valve were effected solely by placing the springs 32 under greater tension, as by moving the slide 38 downward in the valve stem, the resistance or" the valve (within therange ot' dimensions most conveniently employed, ap-

proximating those shown in the drawings)V would. upon opening oi: the valve, fall ott excessively when a high loading of the valve was thus eiitected,-ivhich is to say that the resistance of the valve at full-open and closed positions, for example, would not have the desired ratio or the desired diterential at bot-h the high and the low loadings. The valve when highly loaded might thus permit a substantially greater drop of pressure in the balloon before closing than it would when less heavily loaded. IThis may be more clearly understood upon consideration of the following: l

rlhe springs 32 are of such length andelasticity as approximately toconi'orm, within the limits involved, to the law of elastic bodies that resistance is proportional to distortion. Whatever their initial tension, then, the additional elongation incident to a lull opening of the valve will always increase their tension by the same amount, say, for example, 10 pounds in each spring, assuming that itsl points of attachment are not changed. The springs moment arm with regard to each valve-guiding lever is the distance from the pivotof the lever to the nearest point on the springsline ot force. lWhatever the adjustment for loading and' the position of the valve maybe, this distance remains constant in the case ot the lower lever 22, when constructed, as here shown, with an arcuate cable-supporting face concentric with its pivot, but in the upper lever, 25, this distance increases as the arm descends, as above described. lThe upward force of the spring upon the stem 17, applied through the lower valve-guiding lever 22, is determined by the ratio of the springs moment arm (the radius 23-34) to the 'ful-l length of said valve-guidingV lever, which ratio is constant, so that said upward force, both when the valve is opened and when itis closed, and vwith any contemplated loading adjustment, .and with any contemplated direction ot pull, may be taken as .9, for example, of the tension of the spring. Let it be assumed that the dimensions, and the springs point of attachment to the upper lever, 25, are such that in closed position the downward :torce of the spring upon the stem 17, as applied through the upper valve-guiding lever, is .7 of the tension of the spring, and in open position is .8 of lthe same, the valve-guiding levers always moving through pounds in the spring, this will be increased Ito'30-,po1nicls upon full lopening of `the valve, in accordance vwith fthe strength of spring and yextent of valve opening assumed above. The net upward spring torce exerted upon the valve stem in closed position Will .then be (59x20) minus (.TX29), or l pounds, and in open yposition (9x39) minus (.8330), or 3 pounds, fthe va-lvefoiiering only 5% as much, or l lb. iless, resistance vwhen open when closed. But if 'the closed-position loading :were increased, say to 40 pounds, Amerely by stretching the .spring lthrough turning of the nut i3 as above described, ,Without shifting reither oi the springls attachment points,v

then the full opening of the valve .would increase the 4springls tension to l-50 pounds, and the net upward spring force on the valve ,stem would fbe', in closed position, (9x40) minus ($75140), or'8 pounds, and in open .position (9x50) minus (.8X50) or 5 pounds, the valve offering' only Sys as much, or S lbs. less, resistance, in open ascompared Withclosed position.

rllhese calculations, based upon larbitrary ybut valid assumptions, are oiilered merely to illustrate and clarity the fact that an in- Ycrease .ot loading eected merely by placing thel loadingsprings under greater initial tension may result in an excessive failing od of the valves resistance during the opening ot the valve, Within the range of dimensions most `coiweniently used. Thus the valve, when heavily loaded, would permit ya greater drop of pressure in .fthe ballconfbetore yclosing than it vwould when less heavily loaded. lil-.le jiind that this disadvantage may be obviated .and either an approximately constant .ratio or an approximately constant di-i'ierential vbetween open and closing pressure obtained, nothwithstanding variations in the loading ,of `the valve, by providing vmeans whereby the increase of loading is in part effected iby changing-the spri gs point of attachment to one o-the valve-'guiding flevers, the feiiect of such change ot attachnient point, Within certain ilimits oi'change, being opposite to fthe -eii'ect of increasing the spring tension, lisregards .variation of the open-closed ypressure differential or ratio. By changing the springs attachment point onthelever, a Wide rangeot such con'ipensating' effects may 'be .obtained and they may be easily calculated in Ydesigning Vthe structure.

, ln Athe embodiment `here shown -We have provided means oi this character such as to shift the springs point of attachmenton the upper lever as the result oi a single adjusting operation e'iected from'the exterior of .the valve, -ivhich oper-ation at thev saine frtime increases :thespring tension, ,so that,

with convenient proportion ,and `xari'angement 1of parts, vWe are enabled to obtain a A desirable ratio or vdiierential between opening link 59, constituting a part .of the adjust-ing` device and itself acting'as a` parallel-motion element. Said link 59 is pivoted -to the lower lever 22, at a iXed point 60, and at its upper end is pivoted between a pair of ears, one being .shoivn at 6l, formed on the upper valve-.guiding f lever 25, the lpivot pin, 62,

being slidably mounted in arcuate slots, such as 63, formed-in the respective ears, concentric with the pivot 26 of ythe valve-guiding lever, this arrangement being such that vvhen -the upper and Vlower valve-guiding levers are adjusted from or toward each other, by turningtheivorrn 5l, the pivotpin 62, VWhile sliding` in the slots 63, as an incident ,-to such adjustment, will not change its distance -'jrom the pivot26. Thus Whatever Ythe position oi the pivot pin 62 in the slots 63 may be, the link 5 9 `will act, in the opening and closing movement ofthe valve, as a parallel-motion arm, and not interfere With the operation of the stem-guiding levers 25 and 22, and the valve stem 17, as ,respective elements of a parallel-motion.

The upper vend of each of the loading springs 32 is hooked vupon an adjustable .studbolt 6i screvvedinto a member 65, the latter having a journalapertured `base portion extending doivnu'ardbetvveen the Vforks ot the biiurcated stem-.guiding lever 25 and provided vrith axle bolts 66,

66a, projecting' through andadapted .to run `in slots, suchias 67, formed in .said yiiorke.

Vlrlhe axle bolt 66, nearest the lvalve vstem 17,

"isconnected by a link 68 with the top of the parallel-motion link 59, which is thus adapted automatically to move the carriage 65, and kthe upper lend of the loading springattached thereto, toward the pivot end of the `stemguiding lever 25 when the spring tension is increased by means of the Worm 5l, and .in the opposite direction Whenthespring tension is by such means decreased. It .will be understood that,in the specific construction here shown, such movement of the carriage with relation to the lever 25 does not occur in the opening and closingvof the valve, :but

only during the voperation of adjusting the loading of the valve. lt Will be observed in Figs. 8 and 9 that the pivot pin62 and the aigle bolt 66 at opposite .ends of the link 68, do not change their positions With-relationfto `the lever 25 pwhen the valve moves from the closed position of Fig. 8 to the open position of Fig. 9. The shifting of the springs point of attachment is illustrated in Fig. 10, where the positions of the 5 spring 32, carriageL 65, link 68, and lower arm 22 before increase of loading are shown in dot-and-dash lines, and their positions after increase of loading in full lines.

The provision ofithe adjustable stud bolts i as anchorages for the several loading springs provides for ready adjustmentV of the latter` to equalize their net lifting force uponY the valve stem, as in case the springs are not allof exactly equal strength orare l not all originally mounted under exactly equal tension. Y

We iind that Vthe desired compensating effect is obtained when the relative dimensions andV positions of the parts are substantially as shown, but it will be obvious that various effects may be obtained according to the location of the points from which and to which the point of attachment is shifted, Ywhich may be widely varied, as by changing the position or direction of the:V

slots 67, or varying the relative length of the link 68, or the form of the carriage 65. In the structure here shown the slots 67 are approximately tangent to a circle drawn about l0 the attachment point 34 ofV the springs cable 83, so that movement of the carriage 65in said slots does not in itself substanf' tially effect the tension of the spring, as this simplifies the problems of calculation in the :a5 designing of the structure.

Stiil broader modifications are possible Y within the scope of our invention, and we do not wholly limit it to a structure in which the stem-guiding arms are of lequal length,

40 nor one in which the point of attachment at one end only of the loading spring is shifted, nor one in which the adjustment of spring tension and' shifting of the springs attachment point'are both employed or in which they compensate each other. ln fact we consider itone of the important advantages of our invention that it may be variously modified to obtain a wide variety of results, some of which are desirable in a balloon valve while others may be more desirable iniother uses.

For manually' opening the valve we provide, as shown in Fig. 13, a two armed bracket 69 secured upon the lower end of the shaft 45, against the worm gear 50, by

a nut 70, and avalve-opening cable 71 connected to said bracket and running, past a Y.

grooved, idler, Vguide pulley 72 journalled in a frame structure 7 3 secured to the valveseating ring 11, to a position within reach of the operator.

For forcibly: closing the valve, on occa-7V rigid, lateral extensions, one being shown vat 6911,:their outer ends being connected by; an elast-ic, cord 75 with a remote part of the push rod 74, whereby the'latter normally isl yieldinglv held, against a stop 76, mounted between the arms of the bracket 69, the push rod thus being held outrof the way ofthe cable 71 and pulley 72, so as to assure free opening and closing of the valve. A valveclosing cable 77 has one end secured to the outer end portion of said push rod and runs to the operatosstatian, past the guide pulley 72, said pulley being formed with respective grooves for the valve op'eningicable 71 and the valve closing cable 77. A pulley housing or frame 78 is secured to the frame structure 73, to retain said cables in their respective pulley grooves. The operation of the valve-closing cableV 77 and the push rod 74 is illustrated by 'Fig'. 18, where it will be seenY that, when the valve is in open position, a pull on the closing cable 77 first swings the push rod from the position A toward a vertical position,

B, against the yielding resistance of the 1i elastic cord 75, andas the rod approaches said verticalposition the pull of the cable exerts an increasing upward component of force upon said rod and consequently upon the valve. cient to close the valve, the rod continues to swing toward a vertical position until the pull of the cable thereon is substantially parallel with the rod, the rod then being in vertical position, approximately abutting the pulley, and further pulling of the cable forcibly impels the valve home, the rod moving vertically to position B.

Relatively short elastic cordsY 79 and 8O connect the frame structure 73 with intermediate parts of the valve closing and valve opening cables respectively, and are adapted to insure a slacking of said1cables adjacent the valve when saidrgcables are not being pulled by the operator, so that said cables may notinterfere with each others operation, or the automatic gas pressure operation, of the valve by reason of a binding of the cables between said cords and the operators station. *Y

It is believed that the operation of the valve, both as to opening and closing under differential gas'pressure, as to manual opening and closing, and as to adjustment for different loadings, will be understood from the foregoing'the operation, for clearness, having been described concurrently with the description of structure. Itis believed also that many advantages of our invention, including those expressed or implied in the introductory statement of objects, will be obvious without further discussion.

In the alterna-tive embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 14, the valve controlling mechanism will be recognized as being dot-and-dash lines in' l If such component is not sufilll) substantially the same as that shown in Figs. l to 13 and above described, except that they are mounted on the exterior of the valve, the disc member. here shown at ley, being mounted upon the inner instead of the outer end ot' the valve-grinding stennand adapted to seat on an annular valve seating member lly extending inward from a frame or housing structure l5" projecting into 'the gas bag from the wall thereof. Said frame or housing structure is covered with balloon fabric lOy to afford a sealed closure from the balloon wall proper to the valve seating ring, and the valve-guiding levers are pivoted on the Atrame structure ly. rlhe disc member ly is coned inwardly in its central portion to permit the valve-guiding levers to operate in proximity to the valve seating ring, so as to avoid excessive axial lengt-h of valve controlling structure, and a brace member 183', on the outer side of the disc member and apertured as at 182, 18, to accommodate the valve-guiding levers, connects the out-er periphery of said disc member with the valve-guiding stem. The telve-controlling mechanism, while housed within the frame structure ly and 'its covering lOy, are accessible from the exterior of the gas bag Without projecting externally :trom the latter, and the valve and mechanism are protected from the undesirable effects of wind and bad weather.

Various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope ofour invention, and we do not wholly limit our claims to theV specific construction shown.

We claim,

l. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating member, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a valve impelling lever operatively connecting the two, a spring having connection to said lever for impelling the valve toward its seat, and means on said lever for anchoring the spring at different points thereon such as to vary the springs moment arm on said lever so as to compensate adjustments or" spring tension as to their e'ffect upon the relation between the valves resistance at closed and open position.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a valveseating' member, a valve adapted to seat thereon` a spring having connection to the two torimpelling them toward each other, means for changing the closed-position tension ot the spring' and additional means whereby the springs point of attachment to one of its mounting members changed.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a valveseating member, a valve adapted to seaty thereon, a spring having connection to the two for impelling them toward each other, means for changing the closed-position tension of the spring and additional means whereby the springs point of attachment to f may be i one ot its mounting members may be changed in determinate relation to its change of closed-position tension, the change ot tension and the change et attachment point being` cumulative in their effect upon the effective torce of the spring at closed position but opposed to each other in their effect upon the relation between the springs el'liective force closed and at an open posi- ,tion ot the valve.

1l. A. valve mechanism comprising a` valve seating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a segmental, valve guiding lever` yoperatively connecting the two, a guide member secin'cd to one of the said structures and adapted to be run upon by the segmental portion of said lever in the opening` or closing of the valve, a flexible member secured to said guide member andsaid lever and adapted to wind upon and be given oft from the segmental portion of the latter, and yielding means engaging said leverfor imnelling said valve structure with relation to its seating structure.

A valve mechanism comprising a valveseating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a pivoted, valve-impelling member having an arcuate peripheral portion, said member being interposed operatively between said valve seating structure and said valve structure, a guide member secured to one of the said structures and adapted to be run upon by the arcuate periphery of said valve imnelling member in the opening or closing of the valve, means for preventing relative sliding movement between said guide member and said-valveimpelling` member, and yielding means connected to said valve-impelling member for urging the valve structure and valve seating structure toward each other. y

6. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a `guiding stem' for saidy valve, a member pivoted on said valve-seating structure and having an arcuate peripheral portion adapted to yrun on said valve-guiding stem in the opening or closing of the valve, and yielding means engaging said pivoted member for urging' the valve toward its seat.

7. A valve mechanism comprising' a valve seating member, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a pair ot differential levers interposed operatively between the two, and a spring having connection to said differential levers for impelling the valve toward closed position, said connection being'such as to give said spring a greater moment arm on one of said levers than on the other.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating member, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of pairs of radially disposed, dillerential levers interposed operatively between the two and located at ciril U cumferentially spaced position, so as to act uniformly upon the valve while the latter moves from or towardfits seat in parallelism therewith, and yielding means acting upon the levers of eac-h pair for impelling the valve. l

9. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a pair of differential levers interposed operatively between the two, each of said levers being formed with an arcuate peripheral portion at its end opposite its pivot, a guide member secured to one of the said structures and adapted to be run upon by the arcuate peripheral portions of said levers, means for preventing sliding relative movement between said guide member and said levers, and yielding means acting upon said levers for impelling` the valve structure.

l0; A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stem for said valve, a pair of differential levers pivoted on said valve-seating structure and having arcuate peripheral portions adapted to roll upon said stem, means for preventing' sliding relative movement between said levers and said stem, and yielding means interposed operatively between said differential levers to urge the valve toward closing position.

11. A valve mechanism comprising a. valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stem for said valve, a plurality of levers pivoted on said valve seating structure and having arcuate peripheral portions adapted to run on said stem at approximately the same cross-section thereof to guide the same, said levers being circumferentially spaced about said stem, means vfor preventing relative sliding movement between said levers and said stem, yielding means engaging said levers for impelling the valve, and means spaced about and engaging said stem in rolling contact at a different cross-section thereof for guiding the saine'.

said flexible members being adapted to windv upon and be given ofi from the arcuate peripheral portions of the levers as the latter run upon said guide member, and yielding means acting upon said levers to impel said valve structure.

1'3"; A- valive mechanism comprising a valve-seating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of pairs of' radially disposed, circumferentially spaced, differential levers interposed operatively between the two and each formed with an arcuate peripheral portion, a guide member secured to one of the said structures and adapted tol be run upon by the arcuate portions of said levers, means for preventing relative sliding movement between said guide member and said levers, and yielding means acting differentially upon said levers to impel said valve structure.

14. A valve mechanism comprising a valve-seating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of pairs of radiallyv disposed, circumferentially spaced, differential levers interposed operatively between the two and each formed with an arcuate peripheral portion, a guide member secured to one of the said structures and adapted to be run upon by the arcuate portions of said levers, flexible members So connecting said guide member with the respective levers as to prevent relative sliding movement of the two longitudinally of the guide member, said flexible members being adapted to wind upon and be given off from the arcuate peripheral portions of the levers as the latter run upon said guide member, and yielding means acting upon said levers to impel said valve structure.

15. A valve mechanism comprising a valve-seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stem for said valve, a plurality of pairs of radially disposed, circumferentially spaced, differential levers pivoted on said valve-seating structure and each formed with an arcuate peripheral portion adapted to run upon said stem, and a spring differentially connecting the levers of each pair.

16. A valve mechanism comprising a valve-seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stem for said valve, a plurality of pairs of differential levers pivoted on said structure and each formed with an arcuate peripheral portion adapted to run upon said stem, fiexible members so connectirigeach of said levers with said stem as to prevent the levers of each pair from moving toward each other, said flexible members being adapted to wind upon and be given off'from the arcuate peripheral portions of said levers, as the latter run upon said stem, and a pull spring diHerentially connecting the levers of each pair.

17. Avalve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve structure adapted to seat thereon, a pair of levers operatively connecting the two, mounted for movement in the same plane and each formed with an arcuate peripheral portion, a guide member secured to one of the said structures and' adapted to be run upon by the arcuate los portions of said levers in rolling contact, flexible members secured respectively to sail levers and running about their arcuate portions and in opposite directions to points of attachment on said guide member, and a spring interposed between said levers and adaptedto hold said flexible members taut.

18. Avalve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adaptedto seat thereon, a pair of differential, valve-impel ling levers operatively connecting the two, a spring diil'erentially connecting said levers, and manually operable means exterior ot the valve 'or concurrently and in dete minate relation varying the tension of said As )ring and varying its moment arm, for a given position of the valve.

19j A. valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted Vto seat thereon, a plurality of circnmterentially spaced pairs ot differential, valve-impelling levers operatively connecting the two, a spring connecting the levers o1" each pair, and means tor concurrently and in determinate relation varying the vtension of said springs and varying their moment arms for agiven position of theV valve.

20. fr valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a plurality ot valveimpelling le-y vers operatively connecting the two,ryield ing means engaging said levers 'lor impelling said valve, meansV for varying the nioment arm of said yielding means on said levers, and additional means for varying the orce ot said yielding means. i 1

E21. Avalve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of circnmferentially spaced pairs of valve-impelling, differential levers operatively connecting the two, springs connecting the levers ot each pair, and means for varying the moment arms ci! the several springs for a given position of the valve. y

22. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, av valve adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of pairs of valve-impelling, diilerential levers operatively connecting the nvo, springs connecting the levers of each pair, and-means for concur-k rently and indeterminate relation varying the moment arms ot the several springs for a given position of the valve. Y

23. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a plurality of pairs of valve-im peiling, dilerential levers operatively connecting the two, springs connecting the levers of each pair, means tor independently varying the moment arms o'f the several springs, and means :tor concurrently and in determinate relation varying their moment arms, for a given position ot the valve.

^ 2li. valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a pair of differential, valve impelling levers of equal length operatively connecting the two, said levers constituting opposite elements of a parallel motion in the opening and closing of the valve, a spring anchoring member movably mounted on one of said levers, a springconnecting said anchoring member with the other lever, the spring'having a dilierent moment arm on the two levers, and means for concurrently and in determinate relation changing the position of said spring anchoring member on its lever, to change the springs moment. arm thereon for a given valve position, and varying the tension ot the spring.

Q5. Avalvemechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a pair of diilerential, valve impel ling levers of equal length operatively connecting the two, said levers constituting opposite elements of a parallel motion in the opening and closing of the valve, a spring anchoring member vInova-bly mounted on one ot said levers, a spring connecting said anchoring member with the other lever, the spring having a dii'ierent moment arm on the two levers, means so connecting the swinging-ends of said levers as to hold them in spaced relation against the force of said spring, said means being adapted-to hold said levers at diliferent Vdistances from each other without variation of the spacing of its eilective points of connection therewith, so'that said means may act with said levers as an element of the parallel motion not-V withstanding variation in the spacing apart of said levers, a linlr pivoted to one of said levers ata deiinite distance from the levers pivot and having its opposite end constrained to an are on the other lever, said arc being of a radius equal to said definite distance, and concentric with the latters pivot, the last mentioned lever being that on which the aforesaid spring anchoring member is movably mounted, and a link connecting the first mentioned link with said spring anchoring member. 1

2G. A valve mechanism comprising a valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, valve impelling and guiding members constituting with said valve seating structure a parallel motion, a link connect-E ing opposite elements of said parallel mo? tion and adapted itself to act therewith as one of three parallel motion elements intervening between said opposite elements, the said opposite'elements being adapted to be held at different distances apart by one ot the said intervening elements, and the in tervening parallel motion elements being adapted to -function as such notwithstanding such different spacing of said opposite elements, a spring-anchoring member` adjustably mounted on one of said opposite elements, a spring connecting said anchoring member with the other oi said opposite elements, ntheA spring having different moment. arms on said elements, and means connecting said linlr with said spring anchoring means for automatically adjusting the latter when the spacing of said opposite elements is varied.

27. A. valve n mechanism comprising K a valve seating structure,I a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stein for said'valve, a'pa'ir of segmental levers offequal length pivotedV on said structure and adapted toY run' on said stein, means for' preventing relative sliding movement between one Oifsaid'levers andsaid stem,va flexible member so connectingthe swinging end of the-other lever with safifdl stein as to hold-it spaced apart from' Ythe rst` lever, said-flexible member lying'against the segmental face of said lever,V a spring-anchoring member adjustably mountedjon one of said levers, a spring connecting the same With the other ot said levers, the spring having a dierent moment armVV on the respective levers, means 'lor changing the .attachment point of said iiexible member on said stem to vary the spacing of said levers, and means, actuated by` such variation of spacing, for adjusting said spring anchoring member on its lever.

28';- A- valve mechanism comprising a valve-seating, structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a guiding stem for said valve, a pair 'o-t" diiiierential, valve Vimpelling levers pivoted: on said valve seating structure and tormedl `with arcuateVV peripheral portions adapted to run on sa'id stem, a yspring differentially connecting said levers, Y means for preventing sliding movementV of said levers longitudinally on said-stem,- the last said means, as to onel ot said levers,`

being adjustable longitudinallyv ofl saidv stem to vary the spacing apart of said levers.

29. A valve mechanism Vcoi'nprising avalve-seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, ag guiding stem for said valve,I a plurality of pairs of circumferentially' spaced apart, differential, valve-impelling levers pivoted on said valve-seating struc-` ture and formed With arcuate peripheral portions adapted to roll Von said stem,

springs differentially connecting` the levers` of each pair, Yand means for preventing sliding movement' of said leversy longitudinally of said stem, the last said means, Yas' to one lever of each pairybeing adjustable longitudinally ol'said stem concurrently to vary the spacing apart ot the leversoi: the several pairs. i l

30. A valve mechanism comprising a Valve seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, a hollow guiding stem for said valve, guiding means mounted on said valve seating structure and engaging said stem and for guidingthe valve,i a set`o`i'A circumferentially spacedapai't valve-closing' springs'Y operatively connecting said valve-seatingY structure and said vaive, a slide mounted Within said hollow stem andy having por-V tions projecting through longitudinal slots in the Wall thereof, said portions having connection to said springs, andmeans eX- tending from said slide, axially of said stem, to the outer end thereof, for adjusting said slide longitudinally oi"A said stem to vary the ellectiveforceof said springs.'

331.A valve mechanism comprising a valve-seating structure, a valve adapted toseatthereon, lan' axial guidingvstem for said valve, a set ol'valve-closingsprings operatively connecting-V said valve seating structure with said valve,.an Vaxial shaft journale'df in said stem andY extending to the outer endlthereof, means atan intermediate part of the'stem, `actuated by said shaft, i'Eor varying the effective orceot` said springs,V a worm wheel secured on said shaft at the outer end of the stem, andra Worm journ'aled adjacent andlnieshed With'said Worm Wheel.

32. A valve mechanism comprising a'vv valve-seating structure, a valve adapted to seat thereon, valve-loading mechanism including aqspring, means for varying the loading of vthe valve by concurrently vary'- ing .the tension ofthe springand its moment arm, a VWorm gear on theext'e-rior oflthe valve for adjusting said valve loading mechanism and lockingv it in adjustment',YY

and a scale andan indicator adaptedlto'regl Y isterangular movement of saidiworm gear.

33. valve mechanismv comprising a valve-seating member, a valve adapted" to seat thereon, a 'valve loading mechanism,

and an indicator and a scale' associated therewith adapted toYV register the loading-'of the valve in diiierent'positions affecting the loading oi the valve dueto the Weight of valve partsi 3 4. A valve mechanism ycompfrisii'ng Ya valve, a valveseating member therefoijra Walled valve-mechanism-hou'sing sealed ,to said Vvalve-seating memberand` extending therefrom in the direction ofsaididisc meinbersY opening, movement;` and controlling for aircraft, a valve mechanism comprising a valve seating member mounted in the Wall of said Container, a valve adapted to seat` thereon, a valve mpellng lever operatively 5 connecting the two, a spring having connection to said lever for mpellng the valve to- Ward its seat, and means on said lever for ancho-ring the spring at different points thereon such as to vary the sprngs moment arm on said lever.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 11th day of September, 1923.

JOHN R. GAMNEETER. WALDEMAR D. KMENTT. 

